Vaccine maker recalling some H1N1 flu doses, including in Saginaw and Bay counties

A manufacturer has recalled some weakened H1N1 flu vaccine for infants and young children, because of potency but not safety concerns, including doses in Saginaw and Bay counties, the state Department of Community Health reported.

The doses were manufactured and some administered to children between the ages of six months and 3-years-old, the state says.

Exact numbers of how many vaccines under recall in the two counties wasn’t immediately available.

“I can tell you it’s a very small amount,” said Pamela L. Smith, a spokeswoman at the Saginaw County Department of Public Health. “We can’t give definitive numbers at this time.”

The News could not immediately reach a spokeswoman in Bay County.

A total of 17,200 doses in Michigan and 800,000 nationwide are affected, the state reported.

Sanofi-Aventis SA manufactured the weakened vaccine.

“We’ll be following the steps that are outlined as far as sending it back to the manufacturers,” Smith said.

The Health Department will use a different H1N1 vaccine to cover the affected age group at future clinics, she said.

Health authorities say children who received the shot do not need to receive another to make up for the lack of potency. However, children under 10 should get the recommended two doses of vaccine a month apart, as outlined prior to the recall, to improve immune response.